Stevens' CSW begins list of 100 Greatest Science Books

Science Writings blog details guidelines and names first 30 books

HOBOKEN, N.J. -- Stevens Institute of Technology's Center for Science Writings is in the initial stages of compiling a list of "The Stevens 100 Greatest Science Books," written by scientists, philosophers, historians and other scholars, and published since 1900. The list currently includes only one book per author.

The first 30 books are featured in the CSW blog, The Scientific Curmudgeon, written by the Director of the Center, John Horgan. The list, as Horgan wrote in his blog, is "intended to start a conversation about science writings." He asks readers to consider, "What makes a particular science book 'great'? Is it primarily the power of its ideas and facts or of its rhetoric, that is, substance or style? How important are qualities such as authority, clarity, thoroughness, originality? If a book's theories are not validated by subsequent research, should that book no longer be considered 'great'?" The CSW welcomes comments and suggestions regarding the first 30 selections – which range from The Varieties of Religious Experience by William James to A Brief History of Time by Stephen Hawking – as well as the next 70, yet to be named

"We hope that readers will grapple with these questions, compliment or gripe about our list, tell us which candidates you like or hate, nominate your own candidates," Horgan wrote.

About Stevens Institute of TechnologyEstablished in 1870, Stevens offers baccalaureate, masters and doctoral degrees in engineering, science, computer science, management and technology management, as well as a baccalaureate in the humanities and liberal arts, and in business and technology. Located directly across the Hudson River from Manhattan, the university has enrollments of approximately 1,780 undergraduates and 2,700 graduate students, and a current enrollment of 2,250 online-learning students worldwide. Additional information may be obtained from its web page at www.Stevens.edu.